THE devoted parents of a severely handicapped woman are fighting for more resources to help others just like them.

THE devoted parents of a severely handicapped woman are fighting for more resources to help others just like them.

Sherina Flaherty, 33, has required care virtually all her life from her parents Christine and Terry.

Their daughter was normal and healthy when she was born in July 1971. But after about four months she suffered her first fit.

Before she reached her first birthday a doctor at Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester had left her family devastated. Christine, 59, said: "He told me `your daughter is brain damaged, handicapped, and will be a vegetable for the rest of her life'. I collapsed."

Aged three months, Sherina had received inoculations to protect her against measles and whooping cough. Her family are convinced it was these which caused her brain damage. Several years later they took their case to a medical tribunal.

Christine said: "We received a letter saying our claim for compensation had not been accepted and we had no grounds on which to appeal."

Christine and Terry, from Walkden, believe more resources are needed to help people in later life who are still looking after children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities.

In Salford there are 120 people aged over 65 who are caring for people with learning difficulties.

Social services bosses admit that more funding is essential to cope with a growing demand on support services, and the situation is mirrored throughout the country.

Sherina attends day centres during the week and is taken out at weekends for visits and walks by other groups. She also attends evening activities several times a week. But each night she returns home to her parents.

Respite

Five days a month she is looked after in Granville, a highly-regarded council-run residential facility in Monton, Eccles, with places for 13 people. It is the only respite care her parents get.

Sherina will be on medication for the rest of her life to control her fits and requires 24-hour care. Christine and Terry are now campaigning for more resources.

"I am devoted to Sherina, she is in my soul, she is my girl," said Christine. "She is very hard work. You can have a laugh, but you can also go into a corner and cry your eyes out in despair. Her care is 24/7.

"To have one weekend a month respite in addition to the five days she has at Granville would be heaven. I believe the current situation is not acceptable. Granville needs more staff and needs to be expanded. We are screaming out for more facilities."

The situation will be on the agenda at meeting of the Salford Carers Forum tomorrow which will be attended by senior social services bosses.

Ann Williams, Salford's director of social services, said: "The Association of Directors of Social Services is actively discussing the pressures on services for people with learning difficulties with the Department of Health, who have said they are willing to look at the evidence.

"There is a growing number of carers over 65 caring for people with severe disabilities. This is a national situation that all local authorities are trying to deal with. It is because people with disabilities are living longer due to the wonderful care and support that can be given.

Salford has a budget of é20m a year to care for people with learning difficulties. As well as Granville, 50 people a year are placed with families for periods of respite care, and the council also uses a four-bed respite unit in Wales and a two-bed one in Wigan. There is also a range of training and support services for carers.